Burned body is identified; New Bern man charged as accessory

Wednesday

The Craven County Sheriff’s office has identified the body of a man that was dumped along a rural county road

Norris Dwayne Rochelle Jr., 23, of Rural Hall, is charged with murder of 40-year-old Nicholas Williams, of Rural Hall, who had been missing since Sunday.

Williams’ parents believed that there were suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of their son, the release said.

On Tuesday, first responders responded to a brush fire where they discovered a burned body.

The Craven County Sheriff's Office contacted the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office saying the remains found were a potential match for Williams.

Tuesday evening, Forsyth County sheriff's deputies were at 735 Hallmark Drive in Rural Hall, where both Williams and Rochelle lived, searching for clues.

Rochelle was taken into custody and is being held at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center.

Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes said Peter Schocker, 21, of New Bern, is in custody in Craven County in connection to the case and has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder in the death of a person.

The body was driven by Schocker to Beaman Road where Schocker used an accelerant to burn the body, according to investigators.

“The investigation has identified a second suspect in Rural Hall,” Hughes said. “That information has been provided to the Forsythe Sheriff’s office. We will continue to assist that office in the investigation.”

Schocker will have his first appearance in district court on Wednesday morning.

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